chris cunningham: guitar, piano, bass, violin, mandolin, x… Read Full Bio ↴Band Members:
chris cunningham: guitar, piano, bass, violin, mandolin, xylophone, paranoid words, intrusive gestures.
brantley duke: singing, xylophone, percussion, looking good
matt badger: Lt. Commander of percussion
Bio:
After teaching overseas in the Marshall Islands, Chris Cunningham returned to Seattle in 2008 and met Brantley Duke, a local record engineer and musician. Within two months of their introduction, the pair began writing and playing music together. They shared a common interest in darker sounding melodies combined with intricate vocal harmonies.
In the spring of 2009, a talented Seattle drummer by the name of Matt Badger was introduced to Chris at a show. After a 5 minute conversation, Matt was invited to join the project.
The trio spent the summer of ‘09 practicing and writing together, then began recording what would become their first full-length, a 14 track album titled “Demons and Lakes.”
Since the album’s release in January 2010, Ravenna Woods has been enjoying a large amount of local support, consistent airplay on Seattle’s KEXP 90.3, and very favorable press (local and international).
Ravenna Woods was awarded the title of ‘Best Acoustic Indie Band of 2010’ by Seattle Magazine, and got voted into KEXPs top 90 albums of 2010.
Ravenna is currently wrapping up their upcoming effort – “Valley of the Headless Men.”
The sound can best be described as innovative acoustic indie music that weaves together haunting vocal harmonies, complex finger picking, and unconventional percussion into complex song structures.
The Road
Ravenna Woods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Deep in the forest where no one could see – I stumbled off of the road.
I stayed in that exact spot for a month or three; discovered animals I’d never seen
I gained their trust in good time
No I don’t know what happens next; singing – please just give me some rest
We’ve been traveling in this godforsaken land for more years than I care…
I care to recall.
One day…
I waited a damn long time.
Finally, when I decided that there was no hope, I left my deathbed and I found some rope
And did it all over again.
And I hung there for a good year, singing please let me disappear;
But the rope snapped and I crawled on all fours back onto the road…
Back onto the road
The song ‘The Road’ by Ravenna Woods is a haunting and introspective track that tells a story of a man who has lost his way in life. The lyrics describe how the singer creates a deathbed out of piles of leaves deep in the forest, away from the prying eyes of society. This secluded spot becomes his sanctuary for a period of time, and he discovers new creatures and gains their trust. However, he remains uncertain about what happens next and begs for respite from the constant uncertainties.
The central theme of the song is about feeling lost and disconnected from the world. The man in the lyrics has been traveling in a ‘godforsaken land’ for years, and the future remains uncertain, causing him to question his existence. The deathbed symbolizes his finality and a lack of direction, but he emerges from it and creates a new one when he can no longer find solace in his previous dwelling.
With lyrics rich in metaphors and allusions, Ravenna Woods creates a powerful and thought-provoking track that speaks to the human condition. The somber melodies and the singer's voice echo the melancholic tone of the lyrics, creating an intense emotional experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Deathbed…I made a deathbed out of piles of leaves
I created a place of solitude and isolation by arranging a bed of leaves resembling a deathbed.
Deep in the forest where no could see – I stumbled off of the road.
I lost my way while traveling and ended up deep in the forest where nobody could see me.
I stayed in that exact spot for a month or three; discovered animals I’d never seen
I lived in that solitary place for a prolonged period and found new and unfamiliar animals.
I gained their trust in good time
I built a strong bond of trust with those animals over time.
No I don’t know what happens next; singing – please just give me some rest
I am uncertain about my future and life's purpose; beseeching for some peace and respite.
We’ve been traveling in this godforsaken land for more years than I care…
I've been traversing through this harsh, deserted land for a significant amount of time that I don't want to remember.
I care to recall.
It's an unbearable and miserable memory to recollect.
One day… One day I woke up and they all were gone; I waited for them to come back to me
One day, I woke up to find that all the animals had left, and I hoped for their return.
I waited a damn long time.
I kept waiting resolutely for a very long duration.
Finally, when I decided that there was no hope, I left my deathbed and I found some rope
When I abandoned all prospects of the animals coming back, I left my abode and searched for a rope.
And did it all over again.
I repeated the process of building trust and seeking isolation.
And I hung there for a good year, singing please let me disappear;
I clung onto the rope and lived in seclusion for an entire year, praying to vanish away.
But the rope snapped and I crawled on all fours back onto the road… Back onto the road
However, the rope broke eventually, and I returned to the road, crawling on all fours.
Contributed by Jack H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@oceankiddd
ahhhh shit. i try not to comment on your guy's video's. but this is amazing. kudos.
@seattleshowgal
@oceankiddd Why would you try not to comment??? Yes, I'm rightfully obsessed with Ravenna Woods. :)
@oceankiddd
blood relatives ought not publiclly exchange affection? or maybe i was saving my praise for "the road," which is my fav song. a mix of the two;)
@anthonycalderwood4162
patrickd cunningham
I'm just now listening to the various moving and wonderfully haunting music of Ravenna Woods. Is your brother the lead singer, Chris Cunningham?